a work in progress

Chapter 19 - The Appeteaser

To: "Noe Cortes"<nmc@sharemail.com>

From: "Harper Harrison home"<hmharrison@sharemail.com>

Subject: DON'T FORGET ABOUT TONIGHT!!!

MC,

Tonight is the night! You should be prepared and ready to go no later than 6:05 pm. Please arrive at House of Blues no later than 7:17 pm. You can still take me up on the offer to help dress you and apply your makeup appropriately. This night has to go swimmingly well. Actually, I'm being dramatic right now. I am just anxious about the new experience we're about to have. What am I saying? I sound like Hayley...worse, I sound like you. Anyway, as you didn't respond to my text messages, phone calls or other emails I've sent about this I can only assume that you're receiving them, you're alive and you're still coming. I know you wouldn't dare back out.

Coral dress. Nude pumps. Black blazer. Flowing curls (if not, do the bun thing). Just liner and mascara tonight. Dangly gold earrings if it's down. Giant gold backed studs if it's up. Done. See you there.

- HH

I'm not terribly excited about tonight with Harper. Since my breakdown with Dr. Logan I haven't exactly returned to normal. Matias is even catching on and keeps asking me what's wrong. I've cancelled our lunches for the last week and I've been keeping a watchful eye on his schedule so I can conveniently create meetings for myself when his are scheduled to end. I can't really explain why I feel compelled to avoid him, but I do...well I have. I'm confused about whether or not I should be happy. I want to be but a small rumbling in my soul says don't do it and strangely enough my soul sounds a lot like Harper, so I have no choice but to listen.

Brrring.

I hear my all too familiar text message tone mark the arrival of a new message.

|Leave at 6:05 pm. Arrive at 7:17 pm. Don't be late.| 12:30 p.m., 3 Sept

|Are you getting these texts? I'm serious. Don't be late.| 12:50 p.m., 3 Sept

|Do you want me to come over to help? What are you doing? Don't be late.|1:45 p.m., 3 Sept

|At some point I'm going to need you to acknowledge my messages or I'll be forced to call the authorities.| 3:30 p.m., 3 Sept 

Harper had slowed her incessant text messages about tonight's events making me feel less anxious. I'm sure tonight won't be nearly as disheveling as I fear. This is good. This is great.

I get up from my bed where I've been laying all morning and into the afternoon and make my way to the kitchen to finally complete a text message to Harper.

{I'm alive. I've gotten ALL your messages. I'm still good with doing everything on my own. I will see you at 7, at House of Blues.} 3:40 p.m., 3 Sept

It's nearly four in the afternoon and I have done nothing all day. The Oxygen channel has been playing rom-coms and I along with my most esteemed bear friend have been taking in all of them. I'm in my oversized gray TIC sweatshirt and navy dance shorts. My hair is tied in a messy bun atop my head and I haven't had the strength to put on my contact lenses so glasses adorn my face. I look like my college self after an intense time of studying for finals.

My kitchen is in even more disarray than I am. In addition to Matias I have also been avoiding dirty dishes, cleaning, cooking, and bathing as it seems. With a deep breath I take in the most melodious aroma emanating from my pores.